"Where have you come from now?" he asked, when we had shaken hands. "And how long is it since we met?"
"America this time," said I. "I 've been there four years. But it must be seven years since I 've seen you."
"Gadabout!" said he. "Did you ever have another Meredith day?"
"No," said I, "nor anything like it. Let's go again."
"Let's," was his response.
But we did not go again, for, as it turned out, another ten days called me back to America. Burns, of course, was already in the Cabinet, but he wore a blue serge suit, just as of yore.
In 1913 when again I came to England, I did not see him. I had several months in the country but only ten days in town, when I fled with an attentive influenza which Freshwater drove away.
But in 1916, having come the day before from a liner at Liverpool, I was walking in Victoria Street just as Burns turned a corner.
"The oddest thing," said he. "I was just thinking of our day with Meredith. Let's talk. But don't talk politics. Which way are you going?"